Judging by his love for systems and stability, one might think Fernando Oliveira is one who prefers the quiet life. But beneath his tranquil surface, we found a true adventurer.
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Lysaker, February 2024
Q: Thank you for talking to us, Fernando.
A: My pleasure!
Q: Hatteland Technology has been lucky enough to have you on board for more than 13 years now. Tell us a bit about your job.
A: Wow, time flies. Sure.
I'm a team leader at the warehouse. My team is responsible for the flow of goods, and to help keep the warehouse organized. As you know, Hatteland Technology is a distributor for many different brands, and we also build custom systems. It means we at the warehouse receive and ship tens of thousands of units each year.
Q: What are some of the high-volume products you handle?
A: Security surveillance and industrial networking are our biggest markets here at the Lysaker department. We assemble and distribute all kinds of industrial systems, but they typically involve cameras, servers, switches…and software licenses for surveillance systems.
Q: Is it challenging to keep track of everything?
A: Not anymore, but it was when I first started working here. It didn’t take long before some colleagues and I established a better system, which is the one we still use.
Q: Does that ability come naturally to you?
A: Being systematic? It does. I’m the kind of guy who organizes my home to the point where I can find things without turning on the light.
Q: That explains why things run smoothly at the warehouse, with yourself on board for 13 years!
A: Hehe, maybe. But I’m only part of it. We’re a great team down there.
Q: No doubt. Why do you think you guys work so well together?
A: There are many reasons, but first of all, we have plenty of respect for each other. I really find that we all have a desire to perform to the best of our abilities, constantly evaluating how we might improve, as a team.
All in all, I like our culture, not just between the four of us down there, but across the company.
Q: It certainly takes a primed team to succeed in the technology business. That being said, it seems you fare quite well with your solo technology projects too?
A: Are you referring to my model airplanes?
Q: Indeed. How many have you got and what is that you love about them?
A: I have nine airplanes, five helicopters, and one car. I love every aspect of them. Assembling them, piloting them…
Q: …they can all fly?
A: Certainly. Well, not the car. But yes, most of them are scaled-down replicas of real aircraft, they’re all radio-controlled, so completely flyable.
Q: One of your planes is marked with FORÇA AÉREA BRASILEIRA.
A: Claro. I was, as you know, born and raised in Brazil. It remains a big part of my identity, even after 33 years in Norway.
Q: I googled Olinda, your hometown. It looks like something out of a postcard, beautiful beaches, palm trees. What brought you to Norway?
A: Well, it’s either work or love, isn’t it? Hehe. In my case, it was both. I met a girl whose father was Norwegian, and she invited me to come to Norway. I made the move, completed my compulsory 240 hours of Norwegian lessons, and started my new life in the cold north.
Q: Did it occur to you then that you would actually settle down here?
A: No, not at all. Norway was so different from what I was used to. But you know what, I actually enjoyed the winter back then. Now, not so much. I guess I’ll always be a Brazilian when it comes to the climate. And I do miss my family, my friends, and the beaches.
On the other hand, Norway has a lot to offer that you can’t take for granted in Brazil. Stability, peace. We have a lot to be grateful for here.
Above and below: The Brazilian air force has an unofficial branch at Lysaker.
Q: Your roots are in Brazil, but you have close ones here in Norway too?
A: Oh, absolutely. My wife Lucienne and I have three wonderful kids, two girls and a boy. Well, they’re hardly kids anymore, only one of them still lives at home. But we still try to spend as much time together as we can.
Q: Speaking of quality time, I hear you have some unusual plans for your retirement years.
A: That’s right! I’m going to start an adrenalin club for my fellow retirees here at Lysaker.
Q: Ok, that sounds amazing. Tell us more.
A: I used to scuba dive, I have a license and everything. I’ve been at fairly intense depths, 35 meters. And I like sports in general and to challenge myself. So, what I want to do is gather colleagues and friends my age, go scuba diving, sky diving, rock climbing — all those exciting things we, for different reasons, never got around to.
And we’ll travel around, too. See the world.
Q: Wow. Not your average pensioner’s lifestyle. Any places in particular you dream of visiting?
A: One thing that really bugs me is that, despite having a father-in-law from there, I’ve never visited Lofoten – or seen the Northern lights. Those are top of my list.
Q: It’s been great, thanks for talking to us, Fernando. We usually end these interviews with a few rapid-fire questions. Is that ok?
A: I’m ready.
Q: What is your first memory of Norway?
A: Hiking to Trolltunga.
Q: Churrasco (Portuguese for grilled steak) or bacalhau?
A: Churrasco.
Q: Books or movies?
A: Movies, though I like books too.
Q: Carnival or Christmas?
A: Carnival.
Q: Favorite Norwegian dish?
A: Pork ribs with crispy crackling.
Q: A memorable sporting moment?
A: Anything involving Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna.
Q: A famous person you’ve met?
A: Tommy Steine.
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